Telephone-switchboard.



Patnted Feb. 6, |900'.

E. E. YAXLEY.

TELEPHONE SWITGHBOARD. (Application led July 2 6, 1898, Renewed Aug. 5, 1899.)

4-Sheets--Sheet 2.

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No. 642,809. Patented Feb. s, |900.

E. E. YAXLEY. TELEPHONE SWITCHBUARD.

(Application filed July 26, 1898. Renewed Aug. 5, 1899.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 3A (No Model.)

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no. 042,009. Patented F5016, |900.

E. E. vAxLEv.

TELEPHNE SWITCHBDABD.

(Application led July 26, 1898. Renewed Aug. 5, 1899.) y (N0 Model.) 4 sheets-sheet 4.

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ERNEST E. YAXLEY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO WV. T. BLAINE, OF SAME PLACE.

TELEPHONE-SWITCHBOARD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 642,809, dated February 6, 1900.

Application filed July 26, 1898. Renewedhugust 5,1899. Serial No. 726,332. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNEST E. YAXLEY,a citi zen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Telephone-Switchboards, of which the following is a specification.

One feature of my invention relates more particularly to an improvement in the class of .switchboards used for telephone-exchanges,

in which the construction involved is that of a switchboard built up of sections, each forming a complete switchboard in itself, with annunciators, jacks, ringing-keys, and generator-circuits. The feature referred to is that of housing the wire connections of the parts in recesses or chambers formed in the sides or between adjacent sides of the switchboardsections, wherein the wires are out ofthe way, besides being protected, and whereby the wires and the various mechanical parts are easy of access for purposes of removal, repair, and replacement.

Other features of improvement relate to details of construction and combinations of parts, all as hereinafter more particularly set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view in side elevation, partly sectional,of a switchboard-section embodying my improvements; Fig. 2, a view in front elevation of the upper portion of the same; Fig. 3, a similar View of the lower portion of the same; Fig. 4, a section taken at the line x a', on Figs. 1 and 3; Fig. 5, a section taken at the line os cc on Figs. l and 3; Fig. 6, a view in side elevation of the switchboard-section, showing the side thereof opposite that presented by Fig. l; Fig. 7, a broken view of the same in rear elevation, showing the arrangement of an electromagnet for controlling an annunciator-drop; Fig. 8, a broken view in rear elevation of the middle portion of the switchboard-section, with parts removed and parts in section, and illustrating the arrangement of the duplicate circuit-closing mechanisms of the local generator connecting strips; Fig. 9, a section taken at the line x2 .fr/2 on Fig. G, showing the arrangement of the insulated contactpost of an annunciatordrop; Fig. 10, a section taken at the line xs on Fig. 6, showing the push-button construction; Fig. 11, a diagrammatic view illustrating the wirin g connections of the switchboard; Fig. 12, a view in front elevation of my improved switchboard composed of four of the sections assembled together in a case; Fig. 13, a view of the four assembled switchboardsections in rear elevation, and Fig. 14 a broken plan section taken at the line c4 on Fig. 12.

1 denotes the body of a switchboard-section involving my improvements and which is formed of insulating material. This body is a bar of required length, the width of which need not exceed about one inch, and throughkout the length of the body it has formed, preferably in each side, a channel 2, whereby a chamber is afforded between each two of the switchboard-sections assembled together with their channeled sides abutting and between the outer side of each end section and the adjacent side of the case 80, inclosing the sectional switchboard. These chambers house the electrical conductors employed to connect together the dierent operative parts of a switchboard-section,as hereinafter described.

3 3 denote annunciator face-plates formed of metal and secured to the front of the body.

4 4 are annunciator-drops j ournaled in suitable bearings on the face-plates, against which they normally extend in upright oblique position to cover the annunciator-numbers 5 disclosed to View by the fall of the drops to their horizontal annunciating positions to which they are actuated by the electromagnets 6 6. These electromagnets are secured tothe back of the body 1, with theirarmature-carrying plungers 7 projecting through orices in the body to engage their respective drops. The front end of each plunger 7 is formed of an adjustable stud 8, preferably threaded to screw into the end of a plunger, which is by preference slitted longitudinally, as shown in Fig. l, to exert a spring-clamping action on the stud and hold it to its adjustment. The slitted forward end of the plunger is shown en! larged to aford a shoulder to abut against the forward end of its magnet-coreand limit the backward movement of the plunger, and the adjustability of the stud 8 enables the extension of the plunger to be conveniently gaged with reference to the drop actuated by it.

9 is a strip of insulating material inserted IOO into the back of each drop 4 in line with its plunger 7 to form an insulating-abutment therefor, and thus prevent shunting of the current from one magnet to another in case of leakage owing to impairment of the insulation of the wire-winding of an electromagnet 6. This prevents cross-talking, which would result from the shunting referred to.

10 10 are studs projecting forward from the face of the body 1, one below each drop, to aiford `a combined rest and contact for the drop in its lowered position. These studs are secured in place, as shown in Fig. 9, by lateral pins 1l, which also form connections between the studs lO and a local bell-circuit, hereinafter described, in the side channels 2.

The electromagnets 6, as shown, are of the tripolar type, and each consists of the usual tubular magnet-core 12, having heads 13 and 14, shown as connected together outside the magnet-winding 15 by plates 16, forming integral parts of the washer 17. The washer and plates may be stamped from asingle piece of sheet metal and bent into the form shown. The inner core-head 13 rests against the washer 17, and the outer core-head 14 is secured in place by screws passing through the plates 16 to securely bind the magnet parts together in proper relation.

The several insulated contact-studs 10 on each switchboard-section are connected together at the pins 11 by a conductor 18, Fig. 6, which is also connected to a terminal plate 19 on the front of the top portion of the body 1. The plates 19 on the several switchboardsections are connected from one to the other, as indicated in Fig. 12, to afford one portion of the night-bell circuit which includes all the contact-pins of the entire switchboard. In like manner the annunciator face-plates 3 upon each switchboard-section are connected together in metallic circuit to form the other portion of the night-bell circuit, and the ann unciator-drops 4 of each section are in common metallic circuit with the plates 3, the arrangement being such that the fall of any one drop will cause the night-bell to sound.

2O 21 are pairs of metal posts extending parallel with the magnets 6 from the back of the body 1 and having their outer ends connected to the opposite ends of the windings of the magnets, with their inner ends projecting into the channels 2 in the body for connection with the series of conductors arranged therein and constituting portions of the subscribers circuits, as hereinafter described.

22 23 are a pair of metal generator-connecting strips supported by posts 24, extending from the back of the body of each switchboard-section. The strips 22 on the several sections are connected together as shown in Fig. 13, and the strips 23 on said sections are shown to be similarly connected.

25 26 are series of spring contact-plates secured to the body 1 beneath the strips 22 23, with their fixed lower ends extended through the body, respectively, into the channels 2 for connection with the line conductors arrangedtherein.

27 28 are contactstuds with which the spring-plates 25 26 normally contact and projecting into the channels 2 for connection to the line conductors arranged therein.

29 29 are operators push-buttons, guided in suitably-bushed orifices extending through the body 1. The inner ends of the push-button plungers are attached to cross-heads 30, having buttons 31 of insulating material, through the medium of which they engage with the spring-plates 25 26 for mechanically operating the latter without causing electrical connection between them.

32 32 are series of metal posts projecting from the back of the body 1 with their inner ends Iitting in orifices therein, in which they are secured by lateral studs 33, Fig. 5, serving also as connections between said posts and the line conductors arranged in the channels 2.

34 34 are the spring portions of the series of spring-jacks on each switchboard-section,

secured to the outer ends of the posts 32 to extend theircontact ends in line with the axes of the metal bushings 35 for receiving the connecting-plugs 3G of the spring-jacks. The bushings 35 are secured in place by lateral studs 37, Fig. 4, aifording electrical connection between the bushings and the line conductors arranged in the channels 2. The plugs 36 may be of the ordinary type, each having a central metal stem 38 to contact with the spring 34 of a spring-jack, and a sleeve 39 insulated from the stem and adapted to contact with the bushing 35, corresponding with the contact-spring 34, engaged by the central stem. The members of each pair of these plugs are connected, as usual, by a iiexible cond acting-cord not shown) adapted to include the operators telephone, as hereinafter set forth.

As shown, the conductors arranged in the channels 2 of each body 1 comprise, in addition to the night-bell conductor 18, the following: tirst, the series of conductors 40, constituting portions of the subscribers circuits and connected to the series of spring contact-plates 25, and thence through one series of the contacts 27 and shunt connections 41 with the series of conductors 42, that connect the spring-jack bushings with one series of posts 2O of the annunciator-magnets, as shown in Fig. 1, and, second, the series of conductors 43, Fig. 6, constitutinganother portion of the subscribers circuits and in like mannerconnected to the other series of spring contact-plates 26, and thence through the other series of contacts 28 and shunt connections 44 with the series of conductors 45, that connect the series of spring-jack posts 32 with the other series of annunciator-magnet posts 2l.

To illustrate my improvements, the drawings show each switchboard-section as being IOO IIO

equipped with only three each of annunciatordrops, push-buttons, and spring-jacks and their connections, though it will of course be understood that any desired number thereof may be provided, and the form of channel 2 may be varied from that shown to suit any particular requirement.

In the diagram presented by Fig. ll, illustrating the general arrangement of the in.- struments, wiring, tbc., of a telephone-exchange, 46 46 denote a pair of subscribers telephones, each in its individual circuit 47, terminating at the respective contacts of its individual spring-jack 86 of the central-station switchboard and including through a shunt-circuit 49 the annunciator-magnet at the central station. These individual circuits also include the operators switch 50, as usual, by which'the subscribers line may be changed from a talking to a ringing circuit. In the present arrangement the switches 50 are identical with the operators switches hereinbefore described and comprise the generator -connecting strips 22 23, the spring contact-plates 25 26, the contact-studs 27 28, push-buttons 29, and cross-heads 30. The switch 50 normally maintains the subscrbers telephone in talkin g-circuit, as usual, and is adapted to be put in ringing-circuit at the will of the operator by movement of the spring contact-plates 25 26 into contact with the strips 22 23 of the generator-circuit 51.

52 is the night-bell circuit having contacts 10 adapted to close the circuit when a drop 4 falls to ring the night alarm-bell 53.

54 is the operators telephone, connected in multiple with the subscribers lines through the flexible connections of the springjack plugs 36 and provided with a switch 55, by which the operator may close the circuit at will.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A telephoneswitchboard section comprising, in combination, a body of insulating material having a longitudinal channel in its side containing the wire connections of the operating parts, and electromagnets, annunciators,pushbuttons and spring-jacks mounted on said body, substantially as described.

2. A telephone-switchboard section comprising, in combination, a body formed of a bar of insulating material having longitudinal channels in its opposite sides containing the wire connections of the operating parts, and electromagnets, annunciators, push-buttons and spring-jacks mounted on said body, substantially as described.

3. A telephone-switchboard section comprising, in combination, a body of insulating material having a longitudinal channel in its side, annunciator-magnets, push-button contacts and spring-jack contacts on the back of said body and push-button plungers and spring-jack bushings extending through said body to the front thereof, annunciator-drops on the front of said body, and electrical connections between the parts contained in said channel, substantially as described.

4. In a telephone-switchboard section, the combination of a body of insulating material having a longitudinal channel in its side, an annunciator face-plate secured to said body, a series of annunciator-drops connected with said plate, insulated metal rests below said drops, an electrical cond uctor connecting said rests and contained in said channel, and an electric bell in circuit with said rests, substantially as described.

5. In a telephone-switchboard section, the combination of a body of insulating material having a longitudinal channel in its side, an annunciator face-plate secured to said body, a series of annunciator-drops connected with said plate, insulated metal rests below said drops, a terminal plate on the front of saidbody, an electrical conductor connecting said rests and the terminal plate and contained in said channel, and an electric bell in circuit with said rests, substantially as described.

6. A telephone-switchboard comprising, in

combination, a plurality of sections, each composing a switchboard complete in itself formed of a bar of insulating material having a longitudinal channel in its side containing the wire connections of the operating parts, and electromagnets, annunciators, push-buttons and jacks mounted on said bar, said sections being assembled together with the sides of said bars abutting and forming chambers of said channels containing said connections, substantially as described.

7. A telephone-switchboard comprising, in combination, a plurality of sections, each composing a switchboard complete in itself formed of a bar of insulating material having longitudinal channels in its sides containing the wire connections of the operating part-s, and electromagnets, ann unciators, push-buttons and jacks mounted on said bar, and a casein which said sections are assembled with the sides ot the bars abutting and forming, with each other and the sides of the case, said channels into chambers containing said connections, substantially as described.

8. In a telephone-switchboard, the combination with an annunciator-magnet having a drop-actuating plunger, of an annunciatordrop havin ginsulatin g material on its surface where it is engaged by said plunger, substantially as described.

9. In a telephone-switchboard, the combination with an annunciator-magnet having a drop-actuating plunger, of an annunciatordrop having a strip of insulating material inserted in its rear side to be engaged by said plunger, substantially as described.

ERNEST E. YAXLEY.

In presence of- J. H. LEE, D. W. LEE.

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